Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, Nov. 23.

 

George Shurtleff, 54, of Adams was found guilty to three counts of indecent assault and battery under a child under the age of 14, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14, and a single count of rape and abuse of a child aggravated by an age difference.

 

He was ordered to be held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail pending sentencing. The incidents occurred in Adams between February 6, 2011 and November 17, 2013 and involved a girl who is now age 17.

 

On Monday, Nov. 30, Shurtleff was sentenced to 20 to 12 years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the rape charge. He was given concurrent four to five years on the other charges.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

 

Ricardo Lozada, 31, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his residence on October 22, 2015.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

 

James Dominguez III, 29, of Springfield pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent 261-day sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 236 Columbus Avenue in Pittsfield on September 25, 2014.

 

Francisco Reyes, 35, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and two counts of rape of a child with force. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $7,500 cash or $75,000 surety bail. Reyes is accused of sexually assaulting a girl who is now age 14. The incidents allegedly occurred in Pittsfield between November 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015.

 

Gregory Parslow Jr., 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of buprenophine. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop and the execution of a search warrant at his residence on October 9, 2015.

 

Jose Navarrete, 41, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 ail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on November 12, 2015.

 

Casey Hall, 31, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

She was ordered to be held at the Hampden County House of Correction on $50,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 56 Orchard Street in Adams on October 22, 2015.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Dec. 3.

 

Ernest Harvin, 39, of Williamstown had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.

 

He was ordered to be held on $100 bail as he is currently serving a state prison sentence on other charges. Harvin is accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman in North Adams and in Williamstown between July 1, 2013 and July 31, 2013.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Investigators have found that the Thanksgiving Eve fire on Alice Avenue was lit by a youth.

 

State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan and Lanesborough Fire Chief Charles Durfee determined that fire was caused by the family's youth using a lighter to set cardboard on fire in the basement. The youth will be referred to a juvenile firesetting intervention program.

 

The structure fire took five fire departments to bring under control: Lanesborough, Dalton, Cheshire, New Ashford, and Hinsdale. No one was injured in the blaze but it did cause $100,000 worth of damage to the home.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters spent Tuesday morning fighting a series of what appears to have been intentionally lit fires in the Morningside neighborhood.

 

Deputy Chief Daniel Garner released a report saying four fires were started in the early hours and that an individual has been detained by police.

 

The morning started with Engine 2 responding to a fire inside of the apartment building at 40 Perrine Ave. at about 2:30 and was quickly followed by two outside rubbish fires on the nearby Plunkett Street and a fully involved vehicle fire on Kellogg Street.

 

"All fires were brought under control quickly and there were no injuries," Garner wrote.

 

The first fire was in a common hallway of Perrine and Engine 2 "made quick work and ensured extinguishment." Engine 3 was subsequently dispatched to 76 Plunkett St. for an outside fire.

 

"They found household rubbish ablaze in front of the residence. Subsequently, they found a similar fire in front of 72 Plunkett as well," Garner wrote.

 

"An area search found a fully involved motor vehicle fire in close proximity to the residence of 41/43 Kellogg Street."

 

All of the engines, Tower 1, and a command vehicle responded to the vehicle fire. Garner also reports that state and Pittsfield police have detained an individual in connection to the fires.

 

Pittsfield Police say Jeffrey Benoit, 26, of Hinsdale was arrested and will be arraigned in district court Tuesday.

 

The Fire Department and the Police Department are both investigating the incidents.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Firefighters extinguished the second fire in the last five days Monday morning.

 

Fire Chief Charlie Durfee said a short in a phone charger at 6:30 a.m. led to a fire in one of the cabins at the Lanesborough Country Inn. Upon arrival, Durfee found heavy smoke coming from the cabin and a small fire in the room. 

 

"No one was in the cabin at the time. No one was hurt," Durfee said.

 

The chief estimates $15,000 worth of damage was caused by the blaze. 

 

The fire is the second one in five days. On Wednesday, a cellar fire on Alice Avenue caused $100,000 worth of damage. In fighting that fire, Dalton, Cheshire, New Ashford and Hinsdale were all called in for mutual aid. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Firefighters snuffed out a cellar fire on Thanksgiving eve.

 

According to Fire Chief Charlie Durfee, just before 7 p.m. on a Wednesday the department responded to a working house fire at 14 Alice Avenue. Dalton and Cheshire Fire Departments were called to the scene and New Ashford Fire Department covered the station. Hinsdale later brought in an air truck to combat the blaze. The fire was eventually contained.

 

"I can't thank everyone enough for all of the hard work they give to the fire department," Durfee said.

 

Durfee said no one was hurt during the fire which caused an estimated $100,000 worth of damage. The state Fire Marshal's office was called in to investigate the cause, which said to have been "unintentional." 

 

"We are still waiting to talk with the owner of the house. We talked to the occupant, who was home when the fire started," Durfee said of the investigation. 

 

According to land records, the home is owned by Roger Bristol.